Questions & Attitude

,

Sunday

Aug 29, 2010 at 12:01 AMAug 15, 2012 at 3:20 PM

Why Montreal?

Check out the grandstands and the excitement at today's Nationwide Series race, and you'll have your answer. With everything you read and hear about that annual race north of the border, it seems as if Canada resembles the United States of about 15 years ago -- the race fans are everywhere, eager to snap up any action they can find. And that includes hats, jackets and T-shirts, not just race tickets. And just like down here in the U.S. during the 1990s, the big-city marketing mavens are starting to take serious notice.

Could Canada become the untapped major market NASCAR was looking for when it spent all those resources trying to get something done in New York City?

Nothing touches Gotham in terms of potential marketing advantages, but Montreal and Toronto are very major markets, and both, like other mid-major Canadian markets, are surrounded by large pockets of NASCAR-crazed race fans. There are plans for a 1-mile oval in the Toronto area, so who knows what the future holds? But know this: If Kentucky eventually found itself a home on NASCAR's big-league schedule, you wouldn't want to bet against our "51st state" (sorry, couldn't resist).

Meanwhile, back at the ranch: After this week off for the Cup Series, just two more races until the Chase cutoff. Any new predictions?

It doesn't take an officially licensed Answer Man to tell you the 12th and final spot is Clint Bowyer's to lose. He's a full 100 points ahead of 13th-place Jamie McMurray and 101 up on 14th-place Mark Martin. Granted, Clint Bowyer is a likeable fellow who has made few enemies, and someday he'd probably make a fine and entertaining championship contender, but the Chase would sure seem more enjoyable if either Martin or McMurray could rally into the top 12. Martin for sentimental reasons, of course, and McMurray because his infectious personality would liven things up immensely.

Was that a Chitwood we saw inducted this past week into Detroit's Motorsports Hall of Fame of America?

Yes, but it wasn't Joie Chitwood III, the new president at Daytona International Speedway. It was his grandfather Joie, the former racer and "thrill-show" pioneer who probably should've been inducted years ago. Speaking of long-awaited inductions, Ken Squier also went in -- as did Alan Kulwicki, Jeremy McGrath, Rich Vogler, Dale Armstrong and Jerry Titus. The all-encompassing Detroit hall isn't to be confused with all those other halls of fame out there, including, of course, the new NASCAR hall in Charlotte.

-- Ken Willis

-----

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.